One of those trees
After my rant last post, the next tree (actually an overgrown shrub) is one that has very mixed reviews. It has some amazing characteristics and some not so amazing ones that you need to look past.
In my mind, there is no greater fragrance from any prairie hardy tree. I used to have an apartment balcony over a row of these trees, the smell would waft up and I could sit there for hours.
Russian Olive
(Elaeagnus angustifolia)
- Grows full sun to part shade
- Adaptable to soil conditions
- Medium growth rate
- Fragrant flowers, silver berry like fruit changing to brown
- Silver Leaves
- Interesting bark
Zone 2
Height: 6m x 6m (20' x20')
Crown shape: Depends on what you want, can be a tree or a shrub
Landscape Uses: hedges, highways, parks, specimen, birds love the fruit.
This tree was used extensivly as a wind break along Saskatchewan highways. It is highly adaptable to many soil conditions. It does great in Canada because unlike our neighbours to the south, this tree is not agressive in our cold climate.
If you want to smell this wonderful scent, visit Larry in June. I know he is not happy with his tree, but that is only because someone previous wanted to smell this tree in the house. So they planted a 20' tree under the eve-troughs of the house.
--- Just another case of 'nos-scents' besting common sense!
Think like a child
One summer, when I was about 10, my father was cutting down a poplar. The tree did not survive the drought and had to be removed. During the felling, the poplar tree clipped and brought down a live spruce tree. I cried, I actually cried.
I was fortunate enough to have a large yard with many trees. I did not care what variety or what weedy characteristics each possessed, I loved the natural beauty. I have dear memories of building forts in and eating the sweet nectar of the Caraganas. We climbed the Cottonwood Poplar tree and had an amazing tree house in a Manitoba Maple. We travelled through the Choke Cherry patch, as if we were in another world. There was always an adventure.
Now that you know my personal feelings for trees, I want to address some common requests from potential tree buyers.
Everyone strives to find the perfect tree for their situation. Someone with a pool wants a tree that is clean. I have one tree to recommend. Here it is the perfect tree for over a pool are you ready. 'Plant a dead one!'
I know that may be a bit harsh, but really all trees have leaves which must fall. Every tree has characteristics that may be unpopular but if you can just look past that, you may find the real beauty of trees.
While biking with my son the other day we came upon a very fragrant 40 ft magnolia. It was absolutely marvelous. Quite possibly the best display I have ever witnessed. Next time we biked passed, the owner of the tree was out raking the front lawn. Those beautiful 4 inch petals had to fall somewhere.
When shopping for trees, there are many things to consider. I understand yards are smaller, yes people today book less time for yard work, but there is a wonder to behold. As with everything, you just have to look past the negatives to see the real beauty.
--- Because we all know, every lovely 'rose' still has 'thorns'!
Speaking of Trees
We received our first shipment of trees and shrubs bright and early Wednesday morning. They were unloaded, sorted and 'man & woman-handled' into the tree compound by 4:30 that afternoon.
Then on Thursday morning they received their first real good drink, of course this drink, now makes them twice as heavy as they were prior to same.
Why am I telling you this, well we are supposed to experience a not-so-nice minus 6o C (21o F) chill tonight.
So we are now carting most of the trees and shrubs into the perennial greenhouse, to protect those new soft buds from that miserable frost.
--- Oh, and yes, that weighty drink really does make a difference!
Double flowers!
While I'm on the topic of spring flowering trees. This fragrant double flowering tree deserves mention. There are two prairie hardy varieties of Hawthorn. 'Snowbird' blooms white, 'Toba' starts white then turns pink. As an added landscape bonus, it has a twisted trunk appearence in the winter. Great photos of both at Potter's Nursery.
'Snowbird' and 'Toba' Hawthorn
(Crataegus x mordenensis)
- Grows full sun to part shade
- Adaptable to soil conditions
- Medium growth rate
- Beautiful fragrant double flowers turning to red fruit
- Is described as spiny
- Glossy green leaves
Zone 3
Height: 5m x5m (15' x15')
Crown shape: Upright, rounded
Landscape Uses: Specimen, spring flowering, winter interest, red fruit
One great feature of these trees, they do better in colder climates. In zone 7 the tree suffers greatly, But,
--- what else would you expect from a Manitoba native!
His aha moment...
My husband came home last night and said "I have the perfect plant for our front yard."
"Oh, what's that?"
"We should plant a Prunus triloba 'Multiplex'
What you just witnessed is what every greenhouse owner witnesses when anyone sees this plant in the spring. They want one or more. We currently have a smoke bush that is suffering from heat and drought. Let's just say, it is not what it could be. In our case, this could be the perfect plant for our spot and we may just do another plant shuffle to add it in.
Double Flowering Plum, Rose Tree of China
(Prunus Triloba 'multiplex')
- Grows full sun
- Adaptable to soil conditions
- Medium growth rate, slower on the prairies
- Beautiful double flower in spring
Zone 2
Height: 2.5m x 2.5m (6-8' x 6-8')
Crown Shape: Round
Landscape uses: Buffer strips, specimen, back of bed, can be a tree (if pruned) or a shrub
This plant is perfect because we want a little shade for the scorched lawn but can not plant a tall tree due to wires overhead.
Patmore Ash
Patmore Green Ash
(Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Patmore')
This special ash, which Mr. Patmore discovered in northern Alberta, has been tested at the Morden Research station and has been found to have superior qualities. It was patented and today it is being grown in many parts of Canada and the United States.
Patmore Ash:
- Grows best in full sun
- Very adaptable to soil conditions, tolerates drought
- Fast growing
- Seedless
- Yellow fall colour
Zone 2
Height: 18m x11m (60' x 35')
Crown Shape: oval when mature
Landscape Uses: streets, parks, yards, and fall colour
And what I like:
It tolerates a wide range of conditions, from zone 2 to 9, and the complete range of moisture amounts avalible in those zones.
--- See, many great things do come from the prairies!
Bamboo Here?
Today's email has an interesting question. "We want a fast growing privacy hedge. Someone said grow Bamboo. It was suggested to us that you can grow this down to -32, and colder if you winterize it."OK, to start with, yes you can grow one bamboo into minus temperatures, but what's advertised is 'Fahrenheit not Celsius'. We are talking a big degree difference here, not what I would call a no-frost kill problem by any means. The hardy North American species, Arundinaria gigantea, is only a zone 4 to zone10 plant. Regardless of what the marketing hype states, it can not survive in areas of -32oF (-35oC), but it has survived -22oF (-30oC) (when heavily winterized). Saskatoon is a cold zone 2, so you need very thick frost cover, or a big backyard greenhouse.
Second, if you could get Bamboo to winter, you would have your yard and your neighbour's yards full in a couple of years. Bamboo is very, very, very rhizomatous. It spreads faster than Goutweed. Where Bamboo is grown as a yard plant it is contained by a heavy vertical barrier dug into the ground, normally a minimum of a metre deep.
Winterize means bending all the canes down to the ground, then finding a method of holding them in that position, and covering them with a truckload of scattered straw bales. If you do not do this, Bamboo normally just freezes to the ground level and comes back in the spring. Of course in zone 2, it does not return the following year as our frost penetration exceeds 2M (6 feet). That effectively kills most Bamboo roots.
--- Yep, you may want to re-think this suggestion!
A green ash that's....yellow!
Foothills Green Ash
(Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Heuver')
This seedless hardy ash has an upright oval shape.
This tree is highly recommended for use in Calgary, Brooks, Coaldale and Edmonton (the mountain foothills zones).
Foothills Ash:
- Grows best in full sun
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica is used as a grow anywhere plant.
- Tolerates high pH, salt, drought, wind and sterile soils
- Fast growing
- yellow fall colour
Zone 2
Height: 12m x 9m (60' x 30')
Crown shape: Oval, prune in fall if needed to maintain tree shape
Landscape Uses: streets, lawns, fall colour
Trees were shrubby when tested in Fairview Alberta, producing many branch leaders and it is not recommended for growing there.
--- Apparently it only likes real foothills type weather!
Opening Day
Yesterday was 'O-Day', yep the first official retail day of our 2008 season. We have had beautiful weather for a week. The temperature has been hovering in the mid-teens C (50-70o F).
Our customers were getting antsy waiting for the doors to open, hey we have been phoned every day for the past ten days, "Are you open yet?"
So as per, 'A Normal Prairie April Day', the photos below show our 'weather' at 9:00 AM opening day.
The saving grace was being able to enter the greenhouses and see the real signs of spring.
--- Thank Goodness for that!
Ohh, my kids are doomed!
So, my husband came home after his 15 hour day at the tree nursery and had to unwind. He started telling me about his day. Lucky for him I am schooled in latin (horticulture latin at least). His story went like this... "so on this cart I had to load number two hydreangea, prunus cistena, corylus and" something else I can not remember. He carried on with his story and I was thinking about a blog post.
No wonder my children were fighting like this earlier in the day....
My two children, a two and three year old were arguing about a name of a plant. The two year old said that is "Forsyia" and the three year old said no "Forsytha." The two year old gave up the arguement and said "look look the red tulip, it's beautiful."
We may have to stop talking in front of them, they seem to pick up the most unique language.
A White ash thats....purple!!.
Northern Blaze White Ash
(Fraxinus americana 'Jefnor')
This Jefferies Nursery introduction is seedless and is notable for its winter hardiness. It is being marketed as a great city tree, watch for it on a corner near you.
Northern Blaze
- Grows best in full sun
- Prefers moist deep soils but quite adaptable
- Purple fall colour
- Vigourous growth rate
Zone 3
Height: 15m x 7m (50' x 25')
Crown shape: Upright oval then open-rounded when mature
Landscape uses: fall colour, residential, streets
My husband has a great beech, birch and ash joke but this is not the time, you might have to stop in and ask Larry,
--- or you could just google it.
Acer ginnala 'Durglobe' aka Atomic Maple
In keeping with the current maple theme, this next plant is deserving of any Regina landscape. It is a slow growing shrub that I could add to my Southern Ontario garden.
(By the way, the 'Dur' in Durglobe is Rick Durand, and this is him describing the development and selection of a new cultivar.)
Atomic Maple:
- Grows best full sun, partial shade
- Prefers well drained medium
- Red Fall colour
- Slow growing
Zone 2
Height: 1.25m x 1.25m (4' x4')
Crown shape: globe shaped
Landscape uses: fall colour, residential plantings, hedge
I would use this plant instead of Euonymus alata 'Compactus' (Winged Burning bush) which is a little tender for Regina. The slow growth rate appeals to me because I would be able to add the texture and colour without having to hack it back. 
Acer x "Ventura"
Ventura Maple
(Acer x 'Durone')
The last two maple trees are gorgeous in their own right but they are large.
If you are like most home owners and have a small yard, but still want the beautiful colour of a maple, Ventura Maple is for you. (Introduced by Prairie Shade Nursery.)
Ventura Maple
- Grows best in full sun, partial shade.
- Prefers well drained medium
- Orange-yellow fall colour
- Fast growing
Zone 2
Height: 6m x 5m (20' x 15')
Crown shape: An upright tree form derived by crossing Tatarian and Amur Maples
Landscape Uses: Fall colour, fast growing, small tree
Just another example showing that, you don't have to be real big,
--- to be real good!
Wyoming Calling
We have another State Flower to add to our collection, click the link to Wyoming under official flowers on the right. This beastie also happens to be one of my favorite blooms, it can also be found in the south-west corner of our province, in the Cypress Hills Park.
--- and if you are hungry, you might even pause for a small bite!
Larry
in Official Blooms
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Syrup, without a Sugar, try this!
Autumn Spire Red Maple
(Acer rubrum 'Autumn Spire')
So you still want beautiful red fall colour and you are not really sheltered. Once again, there is an introduction for you. The best part, I say this with my tongue in my cheek, 'IT'S MALE'. Now, before you get all sexist on me, this is great news if you own a maple. That really means it can not produce fruit. That's right, no more seeds germinating in your gutters, sidewalks or any other place you do not want them.
Autumn Spire Red Maple:
- Grows best in full sun or partial shade.
- Prefers well drained acidic soil, amendments needed in Regina.
- Red fall colour
- Superior cold hardiness
- Slow growing shade tree
Zone 3
Height: 12 x 8 m (50' x 25')
Crown Shape: Broad, columnar
Landscape uses: Spring flowers, shade, fall colour
I have two red maples in my front yard. I wish the first was a male tree. If it was, I would not have the second tree. It seems one of the previous owners forgot to pluck the tiny seedling.
The red flowers just finished here, they appear before the leaves. Yes they are red, beautiful red. My son could look out his window,
--- and see a great display of red against a blue sky!
Canada' s National Tree now prairie hardy!
Unity Sugar Maple
(Acer saccharum 'Jefcan')
Finally, a sugar maple that promises to be strong enough to handle the Canadian Prairie. This tree is a new introduction from Jefferies Nursery. It is classed as a Zone 3 but best in a sheltered location.
The Unity Sugar Maple:
- Grows best in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Prefers well drained medium
- Yellow to orange red fall colour.
- Slow growing shade tree
Zone 3-4
Height: 12-15 m (40 -50')
Exposure: sun to partial shade
Landscape Uses: fall colour and shade
This plant may take many years before it is a large shade tree but eventually it will be the talk of the town. I know one tree nut that most likely has this on his list, he will probably also like to tap it for Maple Syrup too.
--- Am I far off Larry?
Look at that squirrel go!!!
I was once told, "a squirrel could run from the east coast of Canada and not touch the ground until eastern Manitoba." Once it got to the prairies, the squirrel would run out of trees.With the help of great prairie tree breeders the landscape is changing. Many new species are now prairie hardy.
In the coming days, while the people of Sherwood Greenhouses are very busy, I will look at, and post about, some of these prairie hardy selections.
Payroll Time Again
I've been 'Absent W/Leave' for the past couple of days and for a dumb reason as well, you see it's like this.
Tomorrow our first summer employee arrives. She literally moves in for several months. So, that means I work twice as hard during her 'pre-arrival days' making sure there is going to be plenty of work for her.
Now if that isn't bad enough, the better half is presently busy making her room ship shape. Hey, now really, we can't have an employee who who might think we are not organized or spic'n span. That just would not do.
Oh did I forget to mention, to add insult to injury, the problem is this employee is not off shore labour. Heck no, she is a close family member,
--- who already knows we are not overly structured or organized!
Pasteurize Almonds
The USDA plan to pasteurize almonds is set to come into effect. It was developed in response to outbreaks of Salmonella in 2001 and 2004, that were traced to raw almonds.
The problem with the program, "The equipment to meet the new USDA mandate is very expensive, ranging from $500,000 to $2,500,000."
Bruce Lampinen, a scientist at University of California, Davis, who studies almonds, says, "All fresh foods carry some chance of risk, but there is no more risk now than there was thirty years ago."
Organic farmers also question the science behind the rule. They believe that the sustainable farming methods they use, such as mowing and mulching, rather than controlling weeds by chemical herbicide applications, naturally prevent the spread of harmful bacteria more effectively than treatment after the fact. According to almond grower Glenn Anderson, "An organic farming system fosters biodiversity and creates an environment where Salmonella cannot survive.Ya, right, may I make a suggestion, if you ignore something so basic, as satisfying your customers, you really have a problem. Form a processing co-op, take out a loan,
--- or you will not be farming long, organic or not!
Nukem Food
Dr. Mom says, "Washing fruits and vegetables will reduce the risk of bacterial food poisoning",-- Wrong.
Hey, even washing with chlorine disinfectants is not be enough to kill the beasts. Bacteria penetrates the leaves of lettuce and spinach, and passes through the skin of vegetables and fruit. At this point surface treatments can no longer destroy them.
In addition, microbes can organize themselves into tightly knit communities called bio-films that coat fruits and vegetables and protect the bacteria from harm.So what do you do? Don't worry, just charge up the old nuclear reactor and give them a zap of irradiation.
This kind of bacterial community can harbor multiple versions of infectious, disease-causing bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli.
Now, new findings from Brendan A. Niemira and colleagues suggest that irradiation, a food treatment currently being reviewed by the FDA, can effectively kill internalized pathogens that are beyond the reach of conventional chemical sanitizers.The best part of this, 'no labels required'. If your raw food stuff glows in the dark,
--- it is now safe to eat, but is it still Organic?